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Frequently Asked Questions

View frequently asked questions about the Walton Family Foundation.

What does the Walton Family Foundation do?We are a family-led foundation working to create access to opportunity by improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support and advancing the quality of life in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.

Who determines the foundation’s overall direction? A Board of Directors comprised of Walton family members governs the foundation. Each program is led by a committee of family members.

How many people work for the foundation? Today, there are approximately 120 employees, including subject matter experts, philanthropic professionals and administrative staff. The foundation has offices in Bentonville, Arkansas; Denver, Colorado; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Washington, D.C.

How do I apply for a grant?The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for proposals. We fund organizations and projects that directly support our program goals. We encourage grant seekers to explore online resources such as Foundation Center and GuideStar to research other funders and their policies for unsolicited requests.

Have organizations outside of your programs received grants?Sometimes organizations outside of our primary areas of giving receive grants as part of the Individually Directed Program. As with our core areas of giving, we do not accept unsolicited grant proposals. We encourage grant seekers to explore online resources such as Foundation Center and GuideStar to research other funders and their policies for unsolicited requests.

Does the foundation have an endowment? What is it? The foundation does not have an endowment. The foundation is funded primarily by a series of charitable trusts. These trusts provide assets to the foundation on a regular basis and those funds are reflected each year on the foundation’s tax returns.

What is the difference between the Walton Family Foundation and the Walmart Foundation? Sam and Helen Walton established the Walton Family Foundation in 1987, and it operates separately from Walmart and its charitable work through the Walmart Foundation. The Walmart Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation have separate sources of funding and governance and are independent of one another.